Edwards Leads Timberwolves to Dominant 138-116 Victory as Reid and Gueye Ejected After Altercation

Anthony Edwards poured in 30 points, including 21 in a dominant first half, as the Minnesota Timberwolves rolled to a commanding 138-116 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night at Target Center. The win helped Minnesota bounce back from recent struggles as they overwhelmed an undermanned Hawks squad with balanced scoring and defensive intensity throughout the contest.

Edwards led seven Timberwolves players in double figures, showcasing the team's offensive depth in the lopsided victory. Julius Randle recorded his second triple-double of the season with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, orchestrating Minnesota's attack with precision. Ayo Dosunmu, playing just his second game since being acquired in a trade from Chicago, exploded for 21 points off the bench as the Timberwolves built leads as large as 31 points during the rout.

For the Hawks, Nickeil Alexander-Walker returned to face his former team and posted 23 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in the losing effort. Atlanta struggled throughout the game without key players, and their shorthanded roster simply couldn't match Minnesota's firepower or execution on either end of the floor. The Hawks' 17 turnovers proved particularly costly, leading to numerous easy transition baskets for the home team.

The game's most dramatic moment came early in the fourth quarter when Timberwolves center Naz Reid and Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye were both ejected following a heated altercation. Gueye appeared to trip Reid, who immediately got up and confronted the Hawks forward, sparking a scuffle that required intervention from players, coaches and arena staff. During the fracas, Atlanta center Jock Landale fell to the floor amid the pushing and shoving, and at one point Reid threatened to throw a punch before cooler heads prevailed.

After a lengthy official review, both Reid and Gueye received double technical fouls and were ejected from the game. The ejection marked the third of Reid's NBA career, though the incident had minimal impact on the final result given Minnesota's comfortable 19-point advantage at the time. Referee Tony Brothers, who made the ejection call, sent the Target Center crowd into a frenzy with the decision that removed one of their favorite bench players from the action.

The Timberwolves' dominant performance across all four quarters demonstrated their potential when firing on all cylinders. Minnesota's second unit particularly impressed, with Dosunmu's instant impact highlighting the value of the midseason acquisition from Chicago. The victory keeps Minnesota in strong position in the competitive Western Conference playoff race as they continue to integrate new pieces and find their optimal rotation. For Atlanta, the loss extended their struggles and reinforced concerns about depth as injuries continue to hamper their season.